French Ruby
Early 2000s Modern More Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
20th Century French Clip-on Earrings
Ruby, Gold, Enamel
20th Century Link Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1950s French Retro Retro Bracelets
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Antique Early 1900s Art Nouveau Table Lamps
Blown Glass
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Brooches
Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Fashion Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1940s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Signet Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1980s French Brooches
Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Arts and Crafts Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Link Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, 14k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s Unknown Solitaire Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Modern Fashion Rings
Pearl, Cultured Pearl, Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s Art Deco Engagement Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold
21st Century and Contemporary French Contemporary Engagement Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s Unknown Brooches
Diamond, Onyx, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1920s French Art Deco Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1950s French Clip-on Earrings
White Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Blue Sapphire, 18k Gold
Vintage 1940s French Retro Stud Earrings
Ruby, Diamond, White Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1950s French Retro Brooches
Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, Sapphire, Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
2010s French Greek Revival Stud Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Amethyst, Ruby, 9k Gold, Rose Gold
Vintage 1980s French Solitaire Rings
Diamond, White Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Early 2000s French Band Rings
Ruby, Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Gold
Late 20th Century French Hoop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1950s French Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1950s French Engagement Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, Yellow Gold
2010s French Greek Revival Stud Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
21st Century and Contemporary Unknown Modern Link Bracelets
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1950s French Bangles
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Antique Late 19th Century French Victorian Drop Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Platinum
Vintage 1920s Unknown Art Deco Wedding Rings
Ruby, Platinum
Antique 1890s Austrian Belle Époque Brooches
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, Silver
Vintage 1910s French Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Platinum
2010s Unknown Tennis Bracelets
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Pendant Necklaces
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Vintage 1930s French Aesthetic Movement Vanity Items
Ruby, Sapphire, Silver, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Clip-on Earrings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1920s French Pendant Necklaces
Ruby, 18k Gold, White Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
21st Century and Contemporary Cocktail Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold, White Gold
Vintage 1970s Unknown Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, Platinum
Antique 1890s French Belle Époque Cluster Rings
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold, Silver
20th Century French Brooches
Garnet, Ruby, Pink Sapphire, Tsavorite, Gold
Vintage 1980s French Engagement Rings
Amethyst, Diamond, Emerald, Ruby, 18k Gold
Vintage 1960s French Retro Bracelets
Ruby, White Diamond, 18k Gold
Vintage 1980s French Drop Earrings
Vintage 1980s French Cufflinks
Ruby, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Vintage 1960s French Modernist Cocktail Rings
Ruby, Gold, Yellow Gold, 18k Gold
Antique 1880s French Victorian Fashion Rings
Diamond, Pearl, Ruby, 18k Gold
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French Ruby For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Ruby?
The Legacy of Ruby in Jewelry Design
This deep red gem is the color of heat and passion — vintage and antique ruby jewelry is perfect for those born in the middle of summer.
Rubies are one of the few gemstones that can give diamonds a run for their money. Just consider the Van Cleef Arpels “scarf” necklace the Duke of Windsor presented to the Duchess on her 40th birthday, in 1936 — set with diamonds and dripping with rubies, a testament to the deep-red gemstone’s power — or the slippers encrusted with 4,600 rubies that Harry Winston made to commemorate The Wizard of Oz’s golden anniversary. July babies have permission to adorn themselves with this beautiful red stone even when it’s not their birthday.
Rubies are considered precious stones — along with diamonds, sapphires and emeralds — and have a hardness of 9.0 on the Mohs Scale, surpassed only by Moissanite and diamonds. They are composed of corundum, a colorless mineral that is also the basic material of sapphires. In the July birthstone, the red of the gemstone — and the various hues seen in sapphires — are produced by the presence of trace elements. In the case of a ruby, this element is chromium. Rubies range in color from vermilion to a violet red. They are also pleochroic, which means that a stone’s hue can vary depending on the direction of viewing. The most sought-after color is pigeon’s blood: pure red with a hint of blue.
Rubies that are hosted in dolomite marble are the most prized: Because the marble is low in iron, so are the rubies, resulting in a more intense color. Rubies found in basalt, which has a higher iron content, are generally darker and less intense.
When shopping for antique and vintage ruby jewelry, remember that the 4Cs of selecting the perfect diamond — color, clarity, cut and carat — also apply to rubies.
According to the Gemological Institute of America, the color of the July birthstone should be a vibrant to slightly purplish red, and the stone should be clear and inclusion-free. Accordingly, the cut should show off its color and clarity. As for the last criterion, fine rubies more than a carat in weight are rare. Often, large rubies are more expensive than diamonds of comparable weights.
Find a collection of ruby necklaces, ruby rings and other accessories on 1stDibs.